Chicago Cubs: 5 reasonable free agents to target this offseason

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 09: Howie Kendrick #47 of the Washington Nationals hits a grand slam in the top of the tenth inning to take a 7-3 lead during Game 5 of the NLDS between the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

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HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 30: Will Harris #36 of the Houston Astros reacts after allowing a two-run home run to Howie Kendrick (not pictured) of the Washington Nationals during the seventh inning in Game Seven of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 30, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

3. Will Harris

Last seen surrendering the decisive home run in Game 7 of the World Series, right-handed reliever Will Harris actually had a stellar postseason and enters free agency coming off the best year of his eight-year MLB career. The 35-year-old Harris was a late bloomer and is getting his first real chance at free agency. Harris has quietly built a solid career and is extremely underrated.

Since joining the Houston Astros off the waiver wire in 2014, Harris has a 2.36 ERA in 297 innings of relief. He was 4-1 with a 1.50 ERA in 2019 and struck out more than a batter per inning for the fourth year in a row. Harris was clearly a beneficiary of the Astros’ data-driven approach to pitching and relies on his high spin rate to consistently generate weak contact without eye-popping velocity. The pitch Kendrick hit out to decide the World Series was actually well placed – just an outstanding piece of hitting.

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Harris throws just two pitches – a curve and a cutter – but he gets by thanks to his spin rate and command. Opponents hit just .241 against his cutter last season and .150 against his curveball. His cutter averaged just a shade over 91 mph.

The Chicago Cubs need a dependable setup man to anchor the middle-relief innings for their bullpen. That has been the biggest issue for the team, as Pedro Strop and Carl Edwards struggled to pitch consistently. Harris is hardly flashy, but he can be counted on to hold a lead and may even be able to close in a pinch if Craig Kimbrel struggles again.

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